VOYAGEUR TRAIL Happy Holidays! NEWSNEWS No. 101 WINTER 2009 EDITOR: Cheryl Landmark LAYOUT: Gayle Phillips

Published by the by Gayle Phillips VOYAGEUR TRAIL YEA, PAVILION! ASSOCIATION The dedication of the brand new Trans PO Box 20040 Trail (TCT) Pavilion took place in Clergue Park at 150 Churchill Blvd 2:00 PM September 13th with hundreds in attend- Sault Ste. Marie ON ance (we suspect it was mostly to meet Valerie Pringle P6A 6W3 and she certainly didn’t disappoint!)

Toll Free 1–877–393–4003 Valerie presented the Voyageur Trail Association with a plaque (shown below) that reads, “The Web Site: www.voyageurtrail.ca is proud to recognize the invaluable contribution of the Voyageur Trail E-mail: Association in helping to link our country, one [email protected] community at a time, on the longest recreational trail in the world. On behalf of Trans Canada Trail donors, members and the millions of Canadians The Voyageur Trail who take to the trail every day -- we thank you. Association is a non-profit, Voyageur Trail -- Trail length 354.6 kilometres Trail volunteer group dedicated Registration No. 06-0031 Date: December 15th, to building and maintaining a public hiking trail along 1998” the northern shores of Lakes Superior and Huron, MP Tony Martin also presented the VTA with a from to plaque (shown below on right) that reads, “Con- Sudbury. gratulations Voyageur Trail Association for your hard work and dedication in ensuring that Sault The VTA is a member of Ste. Marie and Algoma are part of the Trans Hike Canada En Marche, Canada Trail, the World’s longest recreation trail.” Hike , Ontario Trails Council, and Trans Canada Trail.

If you would prefer us to email you a short message when the VT newsletter is posted on our Internet site, just send an email to: [email protected]

INSIDE Thanks & Respect...... 3

Saulteaux Tidbits...... 4

Outing Schedules...... 5/6 Our sincere thanks to speakers: Valerie Pringle, Chair of the TCT Board of Directors (who stayed and Greek Islands Hiking... 6 mingled with the crowd until they all went home!), Sault Ste. Marie Mayor John Rowswell, MP Tony Martin, and Pat Connor of the Ontario Trails Council. Our thanks also go out to the Hiawatha Snowshoe.... 8 Sault Cycling Club and the many, many friends of the Voyageur Trail who provided “colour” (eg: rollerblading, kayaking, and hiking—you know who you are!) And much, much more! (cont’d. on page 2) Voyageur Trail News - Winter 2009

PAVILION (cont’d. from page 1) We were ALL winners rubbing elbows with Valerie and the other dignitaries (and the rain held off!) but here are the winners of the free draws: TCT Coffeetable Book autographed by Valerie Pringle: Roland Gagnon TCT Duffle Bags: Shelley Tuckett and Lorraine Gravelle VTA Guidebooks and Memberships: Fiona Ortiz, Craig Filion, Guy Edmond Take Heart Algoma t-shirt and lunch bags: Andy Stilin, Carol Patterson, Wendy Bingham, Erma Marshall TCT t-shirts: Marjorie Hall, Dena Rouse, Darcy Ortiz, Shade Jodoin. The pavilion opening is on our web page at: www.voyageurtrail.ca Look for a link at the top of the home page.

Photos in left column – (L to R): Dan Andrews (Manager of Trans Canada Trail Ontario), Pat Connor (Ontario Trails Council), Tony Martin (MP), Valerie Pringle (Chair of the Trans Canada Trail board of directors), Gayle Phillips (Presi- dent of the Voyageur Trail Saulteaux Club) and Sault Ste. Marie Mayor, John Rowswell. 2 Photos Above: After ribbon cutting. Photos to left and below: Some of the hundreds who came to see the launch.

MEMBERS: Don’t forget to check your newsletter envelope or email notice to see 2 when your membership expires! Voyageur Trail News - Winter 2009

PAVILION (cont’d. from page 2)

Photo on left: Close-up of one- side of pavilion.

Photo on right: Pierre, one of many having his photo taken with Valerie Pringle.

Photos below: The Voyageur Trail display and information table drew a crowd before and after the event.

Photos of launch courtesy the Landmarks.

THANKS AND PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL The Voyageur Trail Association is able to offer its members Land use permission could be cancelled by a landowner, and the general public a wonderful hiking and snowshoe trail thereby permanently closing an important section of trail and that leads to all kinds of wilderness adventures. causing major disruption of the existing trail connections.

This is due in large part to the generosity and goodwill of Please be respectful of the landowner’s wishes and property private landowners, who are kind enough to allow us to trek and adhere to the Trail Users’ Code (see last page) at all times across their properties. Continued use of the trail is dependent whenever you venture out on the trail. Have your VTA upon the proper care of the lands entrusted to us by these membership card available should the landowner request landowners. This permission is a privilege, not a right. If we proof of membership, which he/she is legally abuse this trust, we not only spoil the adventure for ourselves entitled to do. but also for the countless others who enjoy the pleasures of a walk in the woods. Thanks again to the landowners who support the VTA!!!! 3 Voyageur Trail News - Winter 2009 SAULTEAUX CLUB TIDBITS by Gayle Phillips YEA!!! “... It was interesting to see real woodpecker holes. ...” The Trans Canada Trail Pavilion was opened in a grand ceremony on September 13, 2008! Thanks go to: Mike and “... Thank you for showing us the tree eating the sign. ...” Cheryl Landmark, Steve Dominy, Fiona Ortiz, Susan Graham, Bob Sinclair and other members of the Coordinating Council This child got the wrong idea about that tree... who pitched in to help. VTA “cards” with crests were given in thanks to: Valerie Pringle, Kristen Spence, Pat Connor, Mayor “... Thank you for taking us for a nature hike on the Voyageur Rowswell and Tony Martin who all participated in the event. Trail. Don’t shoot signs. Trees eat signs. ...” All of the prize winners are listed on the VTA web site pavil- ion opening page (link on home page and Saulteaux Club page). Here’s another sample of a lesson learned (now if we could just get ␣ the word out to hunters...) WHEW! We hosted a visit from Tom Hall and friends at the end of “Thank you for showing us the Voyageur Trail. I didn’t know August to hike from Old Mill Bay (north of the Sault) to Shaw there was one. Whoever shot those signs shouldn’t because it Dam in . They accomplished this astonishing feat can loop back and could kill them and it will hurt. ...” with only a little assistance from club members! They were very pleased with the Trail and with the locals who came out and of course... to meet and help them. Tom and his group intend to return in 2010 and hike from Shaw Dam to Spanish, east of .␣ “...Thank you for the treats that made us hiper. ...” ␣ WE HAVE A BLOG! (No, it’s not the flu!) You can read all the letters from the Bruce Mines children and There is a Blog on our Saulteaux page on the VTA web site. view their colourful artwork on the VTA web page at: The minutes of the last two Saulteaux Club meetings are www.voyageurtrail.ca posted. Now it’s up to you! Help us keep the interest up in our Blog by adding YOUR stories and photos. Just visit our Internet page at: www.voyageurtrail.ca/saulteaux.html and submit your own thoughts, hikes and photos for posting. 2008 STEVE TAYLOR GOOD JOB! ␣ VOLUNTEER AWARD Saulteaux Club Treasurer, Susan Graham has fulfilled the terms of the VTA grant to promote the Voyageur Trail to youth. Presentations were made in Marathon, , Schreiber and Iron Bridge at schools, Katimavik groups and to Scouts/Cubs/Beavers.␣ The grant finished on October 31st. Susan received some first-rate appreciation letters from the children in grades 1-3 in the Iron Bridge public school. See some samples below...

“DEAR MRS. GRAHAM” You have to love kids! They see things with new eyes and teach you to see them too. As part of the funding we were granted to produce the latest guidebook, we were challenged with the task to educate and encourage the younger generation to begin hiking and drag their parents/grandparents out too! Katie Pearson began this project with much enthusiasm and set up a great program, but she couldn’t finish. Susan Graham picked up the torch and ran with it to its final destination--enlightenment! Congratulations to Bob Sinclair, winner of the 2008 Steve Taylor Volunteer Award (pictured above receiving his award from Among Susan’s presentations, the grades 1 to 3 class in Iron Bridge Gayle Phillips, VTA Publicity Director). Bob was instrumental in wrote some wonderful letters in appreciation of Susan taking them our efforts to convert the VTA Guidebook into GPS/GIS for a hike in the woods, showing them different kinds of trees, programs for digital conversion, storage and sales on our web woodpecker holes, a VTA blaze that was very old and being sur- site. Congratulations to Bob and everyone who was nomi- rounded by the bark of the growing tree it was placed on, a bridge nated this year! over some water and a cabin. Nominations are now open for our 2009 award. The Steve Taylor Volunteer Award is handed out each year to the person According to the letters, Susan planned a little who has gone ‘above and beyond the call of duty’ on surprise for the kids and they picked leaves and had behalf of the Voyageur Trail Association. Email your 4 some treats. Here are some notable excerpts... submissions to [email protected] Voyageur Trail News - Winter 2009 OUTING SCHEDULE This schedule was put together early and may have last-minute changes. Please call the outing leader listed to check if any details of the outing have changed. This schedule is also on our web site < www.voyageurtrail.ca/saulteaux.html > Unless otherwise indicated, these outings are all a Level 2, slow (according to Hike Ontario recommended ratings.) Typical meeting locations: Goodlife building, 589 Second Line East (Second Line side); Market Mall 275 Second Line West (on Korah Road corner); Churchill Plaza near the Beer Store, 150 Churchill Blvd., (on Trunk Road between Lake and Wellington Streets); Wellington Square Mall near the now closed old restaurant, 625 Trunk Road. Saulteaux Club with Mark (254-2356). Meet 10AM at Sat., Mar. 28 - Annual Saulteaux Club Goodlife. Behaved pets welcome. Dinner at Sandro’s Restaurant. Call (Sault Ste. Marie and area—outings marked Susan at 949-4105 for details. with an asterisk (*) are outside Sault Ste. Sun., Feb. 1 - Snowshoe with Ila (949- Marie.) For all outings, bring water, 1097). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Behaved Sun., Apr. 5 - Snowshoe or hike in the lunch, dress appropriately and be pets okay. Thayer’s Acres area with Ila (949-1097). prepared to sign an Assumption of Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Behaved pets Risk Agreement. Sat. & Sun., Feb. 7 & 8 - We are looking welcome. Thurs., Dec. 25 - The Voyageur Trail is for volunteers to help out with the Bon CLOSED. Soo Children’s Snowshoe Experience at *Sat., Apr. 18 - Work party (weather Bellevue Park. Call 942-1891 if you can permitting) on the Harmony Beach Fri., Dec. 26 (Boxing Day) Hike or spare a couple of hours. lookout trail with Susan (949-4105). snowshoe with Don (946-9599). Meet Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Behaved pets 10AM at Glenview Cottages. Behaved Sat. & Sun., Feb. 14 & 15 - We are welcome. Tools will be provided. pets welcome. Social afterwards in looking for volunteers to help out with Glenview’s Social Room. the Bon Soo Children’s Snowshoe Sun., Apr. 26 - Our annual ‘Go to Experience at Bellevue Park. Call 942- Blazes’ work party with Gayle (942- Mon., Dec. 29 - Community Christmas for 1891 if you can spare a couple of hours. 1891). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Tools will Kids short walk/snowshoe & campfire at be provided. Behaved pets welcome. 1PM - Camp Korah. Call Susan 949-4105. Mon., Feb. 16 - Family Day holiday snowshoe with Gayle (942-1891). Meet Sun., May 3 - Hike in the Hiawatha Thurs., January 1st, 2009 (New Year’s 10AM at the Market Mall parking lot. Highlands with Ila (949-1097). Meet Day) - Hike/Snowshoe with Ila (949- Behaved pets welcome. 10AM at Goodlife. Behaved pets wel- 1097). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. come. Sat., Feb. 21 - Snowshoe with Doris Sun., Jan. 4 - Hike/Snowshoe with (942-9466). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Sun., May 10 - Annual Mother’s Day Gayle (942-1891). Meet 10AM at Behaved pets welcome. hike and weiner roast with Horst (971- Goodlife. Behaved pets okay. 4812 or 542-8978). Meet 10AM in the Sat., Feb. 28 - Snowhoe with Garry (949- Market Mall parking lot. Behaved pets *Sat., Jan. 10 - Snowshoe to Tier Lake 1302). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. welcome but must be leashed at lunch. with Mark (254-2356). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Behaved pets welcome. Sun., Mar. 1 - Snowshoe with Ila (949- 1097). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Behaved VTA Winter Activities Disclaimer: It is Sat., Jan. 17 - Snowshoe with Doris (942- pets welcome. important to note that the VTA does not 9466). Meet 10AM in the Market Mall provide formal instruction for snowshoe parking lot. Behaved pets welcome. *Sat., Mar. 7 - Ski Lower Island Lake to Trout Lake with Mark (254-2356). Meet and ski activities. Each participant in our Sun., Jan. 18 - Snowshoe with Don (946- 10AM at Goodlife. Please leave your winter activities is assumed to: 9599). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Please pets at home for this outing. • understand the causes, preventive leave your pets at home for this outing. measures, and treatment for hypothermia; Sun., Mar. 15 - Snowshoe with Gayle • dress appropriately, bring lunch and Mon., Jan. 19 - Bi-monthly Saulteaux (942-1891). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. water and be prepared for unforeseen Club meeting at 7PM in the Civic Centre. Behaved pets welcome. delays on the trail; Call 942-1891 for more info. • understand that changes in weather and Mon., Mar. 16 - Bi-monthly Saulteaux snow conditions can affect the difficulty Sat., Jan. 24 - VTA Coordinating Council Club meeting at the Civic Centre at level of a given trail; meeting at 10AM. Location TBA. 7PM. We will plan our spring/summer • have experience on, and be familiar with, outings after the business meeting. Call his/her own equipment; 942-1891 for more info. Sun., Jan. 25 - Snowshoe at Red Rock • for skiers: be able to perform the basic (tentatively) with Dieter & Erika (942- manoeuvres, such as snowplow and *Sat., Mar. 21 - Snowshoe at Pancake 9636). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Pets okay. herring bone under a variety Bay with Doris (942-9466). Meet 10AM at Goodlife. Behaved pets welcome. of snow conditions for a Sat., Jan. 31 - Snowshoe to Mabel Lake period of several hours. 5 Voyageur Trail News - Winter 2009 OUTING SCHEDULES (cont’d. from page 5) DAY HIKING ON GREEK Coureurs de Bois Outdoors Club (Elliot Lake) For fun, fitness and friendship come and join us. ISLANDS by Dieter Ropke Meet at Sears parking lot. We chose the islands of Andhros and Tinos for their lack of For all outings bring water, lunch, dress appropriately and be tourists and excel- prepared to sign an “Assumption of Risk Agreement”. Make lent hiking. sure your fitness level corresponds to the outing level you Please contact hike leaders for more wish to participate in. On Andhros we info. stayed at Hora and hiked on steep, For the schedule and photos of outings check our blog at: stony and ancient www.coureursdeboiselliotlake.blogspot.com paths. The stone- and/or The Elliot Lake Standard - Community Bulletin Board walls terracing most section. of Greece were magnificent here. Thurs., Dec. 25 - The Voyageur Trail is CLOSED. The horizontal walls were frequently Dovecoats and mountain, Tinos *Sat., Jan. 24 - VTA Coordinating Council meeting at 10AM. In interrupted by large upright slabs embedded with much mica. Sault Ste. Marie - location TBA. Looking into the hills we were struck by the reflections not knowing what we were looking at. We also hiked along a Hike Levels ravine with many Easy 2 – 3 hours Level 1 Ontario traces of ancient Intermediate 3 – 4 hours Level 2 Ontario occupation such as Advanced 4 – 6 hours Level 2 Ontario (Note the arched bridges, cave Coureurs de Bois have NO Level 3 hiking routes--our dwellings and other advanced level is relative to time on the trail only.) structures.

Tinos has a port and town which is very NEW & IMPROVED VTA Greek with its sidewalk restau- WEB SITE rants/taverns/cafés. If you haven’t visited it in a while, please visit our web site at: Every narrow street presented images of architecture and www.voyageurtrail.ca colour which made exploration so much fun. Bougainvillea In addition to the new map, the added graphics and the on- cascaded over walls and were ubiquitous. We would taxi to a line store (which is now working!) there is now a Trail Audit mountain village and after exploring it we hiked back for 3-5 Form on the home page of the VTA web site. This form is a hours on ancient paths. A bus took us to Pirgos which was survey-like short questionnaire that hikers can fill in about the very interesting (architecture, layout, cathedral and above- conditions of the trail they hiked. Also, work party partici- ground burial sites) pants can use it to easily keep us in the know about their trail and it had a marble maintenance efforts. museum which was Please use this new form and help keep a real gem. Not only us informed about the trail conditions did it have a treas- and when the trail was last hiked/cleaned. ure of marble sculptures and lintels but it ex- VTA Membership & Guidebook plained and illus- Makes a Wonderful Gift for That trated how this precious commodity Hard-to-Buy-For Outdoors was wrestled from quarries and how it Slab walls Person on Your List was then used in Venetian and Ottoman times. Tinos is unique Consider giving a VTA membership and/or guidebook to for its marble lintels over doors and windows, all handmade. your friends and family! It is also known for its dovecotes, tower-like structures where To expedidite your order, try our on-line store at doves are cultured. The Venetians (1215-1714) were fond of their eggs and young and the guano was prized www.voyageurtrail.ca for agriculture. It is a beautiful (cont’d. on page 7) sight to see a white cloud of doves 6 or call 1-877-393-4003. issue from such structures. Voyageur Trail News - Winter 2009

GREEK ISLES (cont’d. from page 6) Buses were modern, safely driven in In times past, Tinos supported difficult terrain but 30,000 people. Today there are too infrequent to be only 8,500 people. The exten- of much use. sive terracing allowed graz- ing, fruit tree culture and vegetables. People lived off Take into account the land. We encountered that everything many structures indicating shuts down be- such farming. Some had a flat tween 2 and 5 pm. plateau (circa 7 m diameter) Although restau- attached which had upright Lintels slabs at their perimeter and a rants open for flat floor formed by very large dinner at 7 pm, slabs. Today these plateaus you tend to be make one think of religious alone until 8 pm rituals but this is where Terracing on hiking terrain or later. people used to thresh, winnow grain, store hay etc. A number of times we were We also visited the island of Mykonos for 4 hours with its approached by Venetian town but elderly men who the crowds from 4 spoke English. cruise boats made Invariably these were mariners from the days when ONASSIS us glad to escape. was a name known around the world. These people had been to Halifax, Victoria and Vancouver and were curious who we Ermoupoli on the were. Crews of today’s merchant marine tend to be Filipino or island of Syros is the Chinese. seat of government Take heart in traffic particularly in Athens. If you hesitate or for the Cyclades, a are timid, you will live and die on one block. It’s pure intimi- city of 25,000 with dation, just go, they WILL stop for you. great charm. It stretches up a very If you go: The crowd is gone in the off-season, so you do not Marble lintel steep mountain at need to reserve. Studios (BR, K, B and terrace) are E 30-35 per the top of which are 2 bastions of religion, one being Catholic day for 2 people. Taxis are inexpensive and an excellent way (Venetian occupation) and the other Greek Orthodox. We had to get to interesting starting points for the hike. Drivers are a room with balcony overlooking a treed courtyard and we honest and reliable on the islands. stayed for 2 nights. Athens has a state-of-the-art METRO and you can now go The last 2 nights we from the airport to stayed in Athens, a Pireaus for only E 80 precautionary cents with bilingual buffer in case ferries announcements to were forced to stay boot. If you want to in port preventing see the Acropolis, us from catching Plaka and the our flight. Archaeological Museum, the The islands we METRO stops at visited this time Syndagma Square were affluent and Dovecoat and you are close to universally well kept as opposed to some southern islands these places and accommodation. Few islands have airports where sometimes whole villages were abandoned in favour of (terrain too mountainous). Consider flying to one island and emigration and many places were struggling. Greece’s joining then utilizing ferries and flying back to Athens from the last the EU had a very positive effect. Prices went up but it seems island so as to avoid a buffer to account for the sea. to prosper. Aegean Airlines provide reliable and Ferries were state of the art, punctual, reasonable and fast. reasonable service.

Check out the excellent website GTPWEB.COM. 7 Voyageur Trail News - Winter 2009 SNOWSHOEING IN THE HOW TO BE A BUSH HIAWATHA HIGHLANDS PARENT by Mike Landmark by Don McGorman Have you ever thought of adopting a trail? Seeing a section of The term “the Hiawatha Highlands” is commonly used to just cleaned trail being used by the public and knowing this refer to the urban wilderness area, located in the north-east was your work gives you a great feeling of satisfaction and corner of the city of Sault Ste. Marie, comprised of a mosaic of accomplishment. parks, conservation areas and private property. The length of trail to be adopted is up to the individual or The brand name “Hiawatha Highlands” is being used by the family group to decide but easily recognizable landmarks (no Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club for its cross-country skiing and pun intended!) should be used. If the distance is found to be snowshoe trail operations located in the same area too long or too short, changes can be made at any time. (www.hiawathahighlands.com). Their base of operations is The local club will have hand tools and blazes available for located in the Kinsmen Centre building at 780 Landslide Road you to use on the trail. Some clubs like the Saulteaux in Sault and until 31 March 2009 they will be open daily from 9am ‘til Ste. Marie even have a year-end wrap up party for adopters. 5pm. Advertising 14 km of groomed snowshoe trails, a daily Your name goes into a draw for prizes at the Annual General snowshoe trail pass costs $5 or, with snowshoe rental, $12. meeting in the fall as well. The good news is that card carrying VTA members with their own snowshoes do not need to purchase a snowshoe trail pass. The time commitment required involves a traverse of the trail at least twice a year (spring to determine how winter changed Voyageur Trail volunteers have been actively participating in the trail and again sometime during the middle of summer the development and maintenance of Hiawatha Highlands after fly season). snowshoe trails for a number of years. There are three distinct sets of snowshoe trail: You get to set your own maintenance outing schedule. If major blowdowns are found, a call to the local trail master or 1) A relatively flat beginner trail, located west of Landslide club will have your section put on the outing schedule for a Road, is comprised of a 1km inner loop (yellow markers) with group clean-up. a 2km extension loop (red markers). There is a Trail Audit Form available on the home page of the VTA website that can be used to record trail conditions and 2) A more difficult 2km trail (orange markers) down, across, maintenance efforts. You can also email to: up and back through the Crystal Creek valley which includes [email protected] or call 1-877-393-4003. a good view of Crystal Falls and a spur trail to an outlook. If you are interested in becoming a bush parent, or have any 3) The ski trail to Mabel Lake (4.5km each way) also doubles questions regarding this adopting option, give us a call. We as a snowshoe trail; this is the only snowshoe trail where pets have a number of sections of trail that would love to be are allowed. adopted by caring, considerate hikers!

As soon as possible after every major snow fall Voyageur Trail volunteers get out and pack trails 1) & 2), above, in a double- YOU ARE ALWAYS track arrangement. NEEDED! There are also an unlimited number of other snowshoeing Perhaps you are not an “outdoors” person... but do you enjoy opportunities in the vicinity of Hiawatha Highlands that do doing “inside” jobs? If so, the Voyageur Trail Association can not involve the groomed trails and do not require a trail pass; still use your help! just break your own trail or follow someone else’s tracks. In addition to gathering enough volunteers to keep our trail Popular routes include the VTA yellow blazed loop trails system cleaned and ready for use, we can always use those north of Sixth Line and Connor Road [A13] and, once the who can take a nice photograph, or write a story for our stream freezes over, the Crystal Creek wetland, upstream of newsletter. Crystal Falls [A16]. If you have Internet skills, perhaps you can help us with our web site, or even take minutes or keep a bank account for your Other popular trails for snowshoeing not far from the local club. Hiawatha Highlands include the loop trails at Glenview Those that do volunteer, even on a local level, meet new folks Cottages [A12], the Crimson Ridge loop trail [A9] and on the who are friendly, helpful and interested in the great outdoors. Camp Korah property [A8]. Anyone interested in joining to help us do the million little jobs that keep an organization like the Voyageur Trail Associa- Note: references in square brackets [] are VTA tion running, can call our 1-877-393-4003 number and we will guidebook Saulteaux section access points. put you in touch with someone in your locality who is looking for you! You are always needed! 8 Call today! Voyageur Trail News - Winter 2009 WELCOME NEW ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERS MEETING This small change to the VTA Constitution was voted on by Sarah Ackert Ferguson Chris Galizia the membership and accepted, “The objectives of the Associa- David Arbuckle Tracy Galizia Lorena Bressan Denis Gravelle tion shall be to support the efforts of voluntary workers, many Robert Bressan Lorraine Gravelle of whom are organized as Voyageur Trail clubs, in the con- Graham Carter Scott Helman struction and maintenance of The Voyageur Trail, eastward Ann Cook Daphne Horsepool and southward through the province of Ontario from the Mary Ann Cook Jim MacLean Thunder Bay area to Sault Ste. Marie and onwards towards Liam Cranston Sue MacLean Sudbury, which shall be open to the public.” Lynda Cranston Terry Mihelic Wayne H. Cranston Francois Nzotungwanimana The by-laws have been changed to reflect this motion, “In no Mary Doyle Pierre Pignal case shall the Positions of President and Treasurer be held Guy Emond Gary Richardson concurrently by the same individual.” Craig Filion Jeff Shier Joan Gagnon David Spacek The three winners in the draw from submitted Assumption of Rene Gagnon Tom Van Roon Risk Agreements for free VTA memberships were Stan Codlin Willie Van Roon and Diane Burns from Elliot Lake and Mike Barker from Sault TIDBITS Ste. Marie (Congratulations!). Congratulations to Naturally Superior Adventures “As those of you in attendance at the meeting are aware, this (www.naturallysuperior.com) who have been long-time was my last meeting as Recording Secretary for the Associa- friends of the Voyageur Trail and supporters of the tion. It has been a great ten years and I have enjoyed the Michipicoten Section. They have been rated #1 Best Tour challenges and rewards of the position. But, it’s time to step Operator in Canada by the Sea Kayaker Magazine readers. A back and welcome a new addition to the Council. Carole well-deserved honour! Good work! Blaquiere has generously consented to take on the position and will, I’m sure, bring lots of enthusiasm and fresh, new Our congratulations also to Patrick Capper, recipient of the ideas to the VTA executive. Thank you, Carole, for 2007 Hike Ontario Volunteer Award. Sorry to take so long to accepting the nomination and I wish you the best of mention this, Patrick! Patrick has been representing the VTA at luck in your new role.” - Cheryl Landmark Hike Ontario meetings ever since he moved to southern Ontario in 2006. [And we are still feeling his loss in VTA landowners are entitled to free advertise- his former residence of Sault Ste. Marie.] ments when they sell their property... ✄ ✄ ✄ VOYAGEUR TRAIL ASSOCIATION YEARLY MEMBERSHIP FORM (please print)

*Name(s):

Address:

City: Prov. / State: Postal/Zip Code:

Please check one: New Member Renewal Phone (home): (work/cell):

E-mail address: MEMBERSHIP FEES: Please send my VTA newsletter via: Individual ~ $25...... = ______Reminder to upload pdf from VTA web site Family or Group (*please provide names) ~ $30...... = ______My email is: ______Student (full-time) ~ $10...... = ______Snail mail to my home address. Donations (tax receipt will be sent)...... = ______Charitable Reg. #119261923RR0001 VTA Crest ~ $3...... = ______Make cheques payable and mail to: 2007 Guidebook**: members $25 / non-members $35 __= ______VOYAGEUR TRAIL ASSOCIATION (**limit of 2/member) Shipping re: MAILED Guidebooks $ 8.00 PO Box 20040, 150 Churchill Blvd. For topography maps, call Steve (705) 946–2484 Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6W3 9 TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $______12/08 cont’d on back Voyageur Trail News - Winter 2009 VTA CO-ORDINATING COUNCIL CONTACTS: PRESIDENT: PUBLICITY DIRECTOR: CASQUES ISLES: vacant Gayle Phillips 705–942–1891 Doug Stefurak 807–824–2724 VICE-PRESIDENT - WEST: HIKE ONTARIO REPRESENTATIVE: MARATHON: Duncan MacKay 807–825–3338 Patrick Capper 519–524–9209 Glenn Labrash 807–229–2576 VICE-PRESIDENT - CENTRAL: (alternate) vacant MICHIPICOTEN: vacant GUIDEBOOK COMMITTEE: VICE-PRESIDENT - EAST: Steve Dominy 705–946–2484 Andy Stevens 705–856–2884 Alan Day 705–848–8776 DATA MANAGEMENT: SAULTEAUX: TREASURER / TOOLS INVENTORY: Bob Sinclair 705–946–3126 Gayle Phillips 705–942–1891 Debbie Morettin 705–785–3247 NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE: BRUCE MINES/THESSALON: GENERAL SECRETARY: Editor: Cheryl Landmark 705–779–3409 (volunteer contact needed) Carole Blaquiere 705–649–2235 Layout by: Gayle Phillips MEMBERSHIP / LANDOWNERS: PENEWOBIKONG: Mike Landmark 705–779–3409 Joanne Marck 705–843–2199 (For information on any of these positions [especially the vacant ones], COUREURS DE BOIS: please contact us at our toll-free number 1–877–393–4003.) Phill Barnes 705–848–8767

The VOYAGEUR TRAIL NEWS is Mail to Cheryl Landmark, c/o Voyageur Trail Association, published three times a year. Your PO Box 20040, 150 Churchill Blvd., Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6W3 articles and photos are welcome! Tel: 705–779–3409 or E-mail to: < [email protected] > Deadline for the next issue is: Articles in this newsletter may be copied if credit is given to the April 1, 2009 Voyageur Trail Association. Voyageur Hiking Trail Users’ Code • Hike only along marked routes. Do not take short cuts. • Do not damage live trees or strip off bark. • Do not climb fences. • Protect and do not disturb wildlife. • Carry out all garbage (if you can carry it in, you can carry it • Keep dogs under control (leash if necessary) and follow your out). club’s guidelines concerning dogs. • Light cooking fires at official campsites only. Drench fires • Respect the privacy of people living along the trail. Walk after use (or better still, carry a lightweight hiker’s stove). around the edges of fields, not across them. • Leave flowers and plants for others to enjoy. • Leave only your thanks and take nothing but photographs.

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DECLARATION: I understand that the Voyageur Trail is a wilderness trail and some remote or little-used sections may be in poor condition due to fallen trees or regrowth of vegatation. I understand I hike it at my own risk. I have read and will abide by the Trail Users’ Code. (signature) I WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH: ❑ Trail development ❑ Trail maintenance ❑ Newsletter, guidebook, photography ❑ Hike leader ❑ Landowner liaison, records, maps ❑ Publicity committee ❑ Organization--executive, directors ❑ Special events, conference, dinners ❑ Sorry, not at this time.

❑ Please add my membership to the membership list of the club closest to my home, OR ❑ consider me a member-at-large, OR ❑ consider me as a member of the following club

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